to succeed, and a scheme is not the less useful and permanent for being slowly adopted. Nothing can be truly great and lasting that does not proceed by degrees, and require a considerable time for its completion. Whoever understands any thing of gardening as a science, and of vegetable physiology and chemistry as connected with it, we are confident will agree with us in anticipating a more general and effectual advancement of the art from the improvement of the minds of gardeners, than from any other source or means whatever. There is abundance of scientific and historical knowledge in books; what is chiefly wanting is to embody this knowledge in the routine of the practical gardener, and there is no mode by which this can be done so simply and effectually, as by rendering the working gardener, also a reading gardener.

No. IV. - Northwick Park Garden Library (p. 247.)

Mr. Fulton writes that his employer, Lord Northwick, has kindly condescended to assist him with what books he may point out, so that this library may now be considered as belonging to the first class.

The following have been established since February last :

No. V. — Mearns's Shobden Court Garden Library. Established at Shobden Court, near Leominster, Herefordshire, March 13. 1827.

Mr. Mearns has collected, at his own expense, about 200 volumes of elementary, professional, and miscellaneous works. He frequently takes young men who can read but little, and write none, and carries them through a course of useful instruction, so as to fit them for advancing in Bingley's Book of Knowledge," their profession. Mr. M. recommends " 3 vols. 12mo. 17. 1s.; and to all who have been but little at any school, the Expeditious Instructor," 1 vol. 18mo. 1s. 6d., and "Greig's World Displayed," 1 vol. 8vo. 12s. 6d. "Bingley's Book of Knowledge" being pub66 can be had lished by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, reasonable by young men in the country, through clergymen and others who are subscribers to that Society. Elegant, Extracts, Prose," 1 vol. royal 8vo. 15s. ought not to be excluded from garden libraries; as its perusal will add much to the improvement as well as to the amusement of the gardener's leisure hours.”

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No. VI. Rollins's Foxteth Park Garden Library. Established for the Use of the Practical Gardeners and Cottagers in that Part of the neighbourhood of Liverpool, March 26. 1827.

This library is supported and patronised by Mr. Joseph Whalley, nurseryman, Everton; Mrs. Ed. Cropper, and Miss Cropper of Dingle Bank; Mr. Henry Shepherd, Liverpool Botanic Garden; Wm. Roscoe, Esq. Lodge Lane; Mrs. Ed. Roscoe of High Park; and about eighteen other ladies, gentlemen, practical gardeners, and cottagers. A number of books have been collected, but we have not yet received the list.

No. VII.—Burns's Mistley Hall Garden Library, Second Class. Established by Mr. Wm. Burns, at Mistley Hall Gardens, April 2. 1827. This library consists of about fifty well selected books, and some mathematical instruments; to it and each of the others one volume has been presented from Mr. Massey's.present (Gard. Mag. vol. ii. p. 247.), some volumes from Messrs. Longman, Rees, and Co., and one or two as memorandums from our own shelves.

Village Libraries. - The good which would result from village and town libraries, either with or without what might be called Labourers' Institutions, as suggested by our "Constant Female Reader" (p. 248.) there can

be little doubt would be great in proportion to the greater number of persons for whom they are intended. The establishment of village libraries may be more difficult, and consequently slow, than libraries in private gardens, where a more definite and immediate interest exists, both as respects the employer and the employed; but the friends of improvement will not on that account be disheartened. Still, when we consider what has been done in the establishment of Mechanics' Institutions and libraries, and the result, there can be little doubt that what may be termed the agricultural population, aided by clergymen, medical men, farmers, tradesmen, &c. will in a short time follow in the road to improvement, and Labourers' Institutions and Libraries ultimately become general throughout the country. So many advantages may be derived from the possession of knowledge, that reading must ultimately become general in every class of society.

A taste for reading among country labourers is most likely to be induced by motives of profit or increased enjoyment; and it is thought that books on gardening, by teaching them how to increase the advantages derived from their gardens, would be more likely than any other books to present these motives. After the purposes of utility were satisfied, those of inquiry and curiosity would demand gratification; and then would come into use books on science, history, biography, and other departments of literature. This taste might become progressive among the very lowest classes, till, from a luxury indulged in under favourable circumstances, it became at last a necessary of life, which could not be dispensed with in the calculation of the means of subsistence. The idea of libraries in poorhouses and parish workhouses, as necessary for the comfortable support of the aged poor, will no doubt at first appear sufficiently extravagant; but a little reflection will soon convince us, that it is not more so than many other ideas which have been realized. Supposing that reading were as universal amongst the lowest classes as drinking tea, and that books were considered a necessary part of the furnishing of every poor-house, what harm would result to any part of society? On the other hand, how greatly would be increased the enjoyments of such as were compelled to become the inmates of these establishments? Those only can enter into this idea, who, from ill health, solitude, or other circumstances, have been reduced to the pleasures of reading.

Could reading be rendered a necessary of life to the lowest classes, the advantages to them would be great; because the wages paid for their labour will always be limited to what constitutes for them the neces saries of life. If reading, therefore, could be rendered as essential as clothing or cookery, it is evident the wages of labour would be increased, so as to enable the labourer to purchase books and candles, as well as cloth and fuel, and the number of hours' labour per day diminished, in order to allow him time to read, as well as to dress and cook. Every one will allow that even an approximation to such a result must be advantageous, not to the labourer merely, but to society in general.

Rait Village Library. —“ Sir, —The success attending your suggestions respecting garden libraries cannot fail to afford pleasure to every benevolent mind at all interested in horticultural matters; but those who, some fiveand-twenty or thirty years ago, plodded onward in the unwearied search after that knowledge which is necessary to fit the horticultural student for occupying with credit that situation to which he aspires, amongst the comparatively scanty materials which even that recent period afforded, will best know how to appreciate the advantage to be derived from the recent works on gardening, to which you have contributed your full share, and which garden or village libraries are well calculated to render easily accessible. Such being my opinion, it may naturally be expected that I have taken some

steps towards the establishment of something of a similar nature in this quarter.

"Till I saw garden libraries recommended in your Encyclopædia of Gardening and Gardener's Magazine, I never thought of the practicability of such a plan. Although I have higher hopes of support to such useful institutions than your Constant Female Reader,' still I know there are many instances, particularly where only one or two lads are kept, where sufficient attention to the subject could not be expected: but there are few gardeners so situated who may not, in some way or other, devise means to procure books sufficient to occupy the leisure hours of their men when the work of the day is over; and I may here take the liberty to detail the method by which the lads that have been with me obtained easy access to books for general reading, and also the means I now devise to afford reading to them and others allied to our profession.

"The populous village of Rait lies within a short distance of this place. About seventeen years ago I suggested to the inhabitants the propriety of establishing a village library. The idea appeared novel, but the thing was gone into. Each member, by paying a small sum of entry money and small quarterly payments, possesses a share, which he may dispose of, under certain restrictions, when he leaves the place. This right entitles him to vote at all quarterly meetings. Small fines are imposed for too long detention of books, and a small sum, as interest, is charged on all arrears after quarterly meetings, which insures prompt payment. It was not without some trouble that the business was managed at the commencement; but the machine once set a going, now moves on smoothly of its own accord; and the villagers, whose means of procuring books were as scanty as those of the young gardener, and the taste for reading naturally less, have now acquired a taste for general reading, and possess ample means, on easy terms, for gratifying that taste. Thus far we have advanced; and in order to excite a taste for reading on gardening and rural subjects, I have proposed to establish in the same village,

"A Village Garden Society, offering premiums for the production of certain vegetables, flowers, and fruits. I calculated on a tardy adoption of the plan, but am glad to observe that the regulations had only to be read to insure a ready acquiescence. Of our ultimate success I may hereafter send you an account, and particularly of the books connected with rural subjects that may be introduced to our library. Perhaps I should mention that H. B. Stuart, Esq. of Annat, and his lady, on whose property the greatest part of our members reside, and also William Dickson, Esq. of Barn Hill of Kinnoul Nurseries, have most kindly come forward in support of our infant institution.

"I hope the above narrative will not appear egotistical. I claim no merit in the part I have taken. I have merely recommended to others what I know would add to their comfort; and I now mention it to show that a gardener, in whatever situation he is, may have much in his power in the way of obtaining books, not only for his lads, but also for those of the lower orders amongst or near whom he may be destined to live. Nor should he be discouraged by untoward circumstances in the outset : a good action always remunerates itself.'-I have ordered a dendrometer to be made, which I propose sending for the use of the young men in the Clapton nursery; and as a friend has sent me some queries as to the use of the instrument, I shall accompany the present with extracts from my reply. I hope to be able to do this in time for these extracts being sent for your July number. Besides the instruments mentioned by Mr. Rentoul as necessary for young gardeners, I should suppose a theodolite, or at least a plain table, for taking angles in surveying, would be useful. I may hereafter send for

your Magazine some hints on surveying, keeping a field book, &c., which may be useful for my young brethren.

Wishing you the success in your undertaking which you deserve, I remain most respectfully, Sir, &c. "Annat Garden, March 11. 1827. ARCHIBALD GOrrie." Itinerating, Juvenile and Village Libraries, have been established for a number of years in the county of East Lothian, and the "Third Report" of this Institution, (12mo. pp. 16. 1823), has just been sent us. "The object of this Institution is to furnish the towns and the villages of East Lothian with libraries of useful books, consisting of such as are calculated to promote the knowledge of religion, agriculture, mechanics, the construction of implements of husbandry, history, travels, &c. The books are arranged into divisions of fifty volumes, which are stationed in a place for two years, where they are issued gratuitously to all persons above 12 years of age, who agree to take care of them; and after this period they are removed, or exchanged with other divisions. The Institution is chiefly supported by the subscriptions and donations of benevolent individuals and religious societies, and the profits from the sale of religious periodical publications sold by the manager, Mr. Samuel Brown, of Haddington," the original inventor of the plan.

We strongly recommend this pamphlet to all who take an interest in the subject; and, we have no doubt the inventor and manager would willingly give any farther information that might be required. The different "Reports" are so small, that they might be sent under a frank. In the "Scotsman" Newspaper for March 28, is the following account of the establishment of an Itinerating Library in Mid Lothian:

"Some months ago a Society was formed here for establishing Itinerating Libraries in Mid Lothian; and we are happy to say, that they have now so far completed their arrangements, that they have six divisions ready for circulation. Each division consists of fifty volumes; the books are generally of cheap editions, and of a miscellaneous character, including history, travels, scientific treatises, with a pretty large proportion of religious works; and what is a material advantage, all of them are of a description which may be put into the hands of persons of any age, and of either sex. Each division is put up in a neat green box, about two feet broad by two and a half long, and six or seven inches deep, with a lock on it, and shelved within. This box serves to convey the books from place to place, and, when set on its end, forms a ready-made book-case. On application to the Society, a division is sent to any respectable person in a village. Thirty shillings per annum is charged by the Society for the use of fifty volumes; but the parties are allowed to change the lot of books as often as they please within the year, without paying any thing more, except the expense of carriage. A catalogue printed on a single leaf, is put into each volume, containing the names of all the books in the division. In one respect the system of the Edinburgh Itinerating Libraries differs from that adopted in East Lothian by the inventor, Mr. Samuel Brown. In the latter, the books are lent out gratuitously; in the former, a small charge is made for their use. Local circumstances may render the one or the other system more eligible; but speaking generally we prefer the latter; because, by this mode the libraries, when onee established, will support themselves, and the persons for whom they are intended will not have their pride hurt by receiving as charity what they are willing to pay for. We need scarcely add, that the Society is not a trading establishment, but a benevolent institution, of which the Reverend Dr. Gordon, Mr. Grey, and other excellent men are members. We warmly recommend it to public patronage. The advantages which the scheme holds out for the diffusion of knowledge are astonishingly great, and must, sooner or later, bring these libraries into universal use. It is no exaggeration to say, that one pound applied in this way, will go as far in spreading information as fifty or one hundred pounds expended on stationary libraries. Mr. Samuel Brown has, in fact, shown, and proved by the results of his own experience, that the small sum of 3001. per annum, would suffice in the space of twenty years, to establish and maintain two divisions in every parish in Scotland. By combining 20 or 30 stations into a circle, the inhabitants of each parish might have, at an expence of a shilling a year individually, the use of 1000 or 1500 volumes."- Two or three germs of such men as, Mr. Samuel Brown must exist in every county town in Britain; if the above account does not rouse them into action we know not what will.

Such gardeners as take a twice-a-week newspaper, will find the "Scotsman," we do not hesitate to say, superior to any other journal of the kind. A considerable part of it is devoted to literature, and party politics are kept in due subordination to historical notices, and general principles of moral, political, and economical improvement. It is adapted for "man" in general as much as for a "Scotsman," and may be read with nearly equal interest in America as in Europe. Such a paper deserves binding up for future reference as much as any magazine or review,

Books for Garden and Village Libraries. The "Library of Useful Knowledge," some account of which, accompanied with the warmest approbation of its object, has been given in most of the newspapers, is now publishing in Nos. at 6d. each. All that we shall say in favour of this work is, that no gardener, whether master or journeyman, should be without it, and that every number ought to be read and studied again and again till the subject is completely mastered by the reader. As these treatises are particularly calculated for "such as are unable to avail themselves of experienced teachers, or may prefer learning by themselves," the respective subjects treated of will be more readily mastered from this, than from almost any other work. For instance, the first treatise, which is on hydrostatics, is so plain and clear, and so copiously illustrated by cuts, that any person who can read may make himself master of all the leading doctrines. A gardener will find beautifully illustrated (p. 4.) the singular principle on which Mr. Kewley's automaton gardener (E. of G. § 1490.) operates, and which may be applied to other most important purposes. There can scarcely be a cheaper book equally well executed, and as it appears the numbers will not come out oftener than once or twice a-month, every gardener lad may become a purchaser; and what we chiefly insist on, may appropriate the knowledge of each No. as it appears, so as to render it completely his own.

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Employment of Time. You should endeavour to impress upon young men whose every thing in life depends on their own exertions, the immense importance of not merely employing every leisure moment, but of employing it systematically, or for a particular purpose. One person takes up some useful or agreeable book every morning at breakfast, and at the end of the year has spent agreeably, and we may say profitably, as many half hours as will come to nearly three weeks; another always takes up a Latin grammar, and a Janua Linguarum in the same intervals, and at the end of the year has acquired a tolerable knowledge of Latin. Thus you see that whether a young man shall know two or three languages besides his mother tongue, and something of natural history and philosophy, may depend on the seemingly trifling circumstance of how he spends the few spare minutes at the beginning and ending of his meals, from the age of fifteen to twenty-five." (A. C.)

Garden Libraries, it is suggested by "A Practical Gardener," might be formed and supported, and gardeners of superior abilities produced, by masters making it a rule to take no young men as apprentices without a premium, and laying out that premium on books, &c. R. G. recommends small societies or associations of practical gardeners for the purposes of purchasing books, and mutual instruction, something, as we conceive, in the manner of the Leith Walk Linnean Society. An account of this society sent us by G. W. Irvine, Esq. shall appear in our next number.

ART. VII. Answers to Queries, and Queries.

Culture of Cyclamen pérsicum, (vol i. p. 586.)—“ Dear Sir,—In answer to your letter, stating that your correspondent, Mentor, complains that I do not state what is done with the bulbs after they have done blowing, I add the following particulars. After potting, and finding them well established in the pot, in full foliage, &c., I place them under glass, with as much air as they will bear, and water in proportion. The only difficulty to encounter is during the months of November and December, which, if very moist, some attention is required to keep the leaves from damping off. The only preventive is air, and as little water as the plant will exist upon. By this mode of cultivation, they will blossom very early in spring, especially if